Open Circuit Squib Driver Side! Red Triangle...

Hi everybody

I recently purchased a second-hand Prius T4 (2007 model) and I noticed that the red triangle exclamation was showing on the dashboard. Initially, my local mechanic found a P3000 error code and a B1801 error code.

I ran techstream on it just last night and the main errors that came out were:

Current codes:

Srs airbag B1801 - open circuit in driver side circuit

Air conditioner B1421

Transmission control - C2318

History codes:

HV battery - POA84

I also have just found out that this car was in a major collision in 2012. The air bag light is constantly on, along with the red triangle exclamation, on the dashboard.

The fuses for the battery fan kit, horn, and air bag needed replacing (I think all three but definitely two of these)

I have done a lot of research but I can't seem to get to the root cause of the problem.

Could it be that the open circuit on the driver side squib is draining the 12 volt battery and then this is having a knock on affect? Because the battery seems really weak.

Is it the whole squib which needs replacing? Or just the spiral cable? Or maybe even the ECU? Could the crash have damaged some of the sensors for the airbag maybe?

Is there any way for me/my mechanic to carry out some tests in order to determine the exact cause within the B1801 error? Toyota will charge a bomb to just tell me what the issues are. I'm happy to go to them as a last resort but ideally would like to become self-sufficient with my car.

I thought it was the hybrid battery but it still could be - I just need to figure this all out.

Thank you so much for your help.

Many thanks

Sam

 

just to add to my last post - the data sheet for the SRS Airbag screen, on Techstream is showing:

Driver Seat Position = Bkward
Driver Buckle SW = Unset
Display Type information = DP
Number of Past DTC = 1

 

Thanks for your reply John.

I'm based on South West London (near Clapham).

The car turned out to be a former Category C write off. I know i should have checked all of this before buying, and now the seller has disappeared off the face of the earth! What a nice man ey.

I cant afford Toyota's fees and i'm okay with following instructions and mechanical stuff - but i just need to figure out what the main issues are. From what i can see so far, with the battery fan, horn and airbag fuses being blown - i'm assuming that the main hybrid battery fan must have been working hard to cool the HV battery down as it may have been over-working in order to charge the 12v battery, which was being drained by the open circuit in the driver side squib? Thats just a guess.

I'm not replacing the 12v battery until this "open circuit" is closed because otherwise it could just drain the new battery aswell (?)

I'm attaching a PDF which lists the potential areas of problems but i'm struggling identifying the exact issue. Is there any way for me to test each area (spiral cable, steering pad, ECU, etc) to see which area it exactly is?

thanks again

 

this is so helpful John - thank you

okay - whilst i'm at my desk - i just had a few extra thoughts:

The chassis on the right side/driver side, behind the tyre doesn't look like its been fully straightened out properly as its got abit of a curve in it. Is this maybe the problem? Could the car be thinking that the car is bent and so has crashed, therefore keeping the air bag circuit open?

Also, this B1801 code is down as both "history" and "current" in techstream. So maybe they tried fixing it before but then it went back to square 1 again?

RE the fan for the HV battery, that was down as a history code so maybe that got resolved, although i will check it out


feel free to share any additional thoughts that you may have - its all much appreciated

thanks again John

 

also - a friend of mine from the US reckons that it could be the ECU for the air bag assembly? maybe it needs resetting or re-fitting but what if the bend in the car just sets it off again.

one thing at a time i guess...

 

Genius! Thank you.

Yes - the aircon bit makes sense as i did the testing quite late last night (in the dark) - plus the aircon works fine.

few quick points in response to your messages:

1 - i have a small yellow volt testing unit made by Helix (model DT-830B) which has 1 red cable coming out of it and a needle on the end, and another black cable with needle type thing on the end. It can measure voltage/amps and i could probably learn how to use it. Is this what you mean by multi-meter? Would I stick one end into the positive part of the fuse and 1 end into the negative? Which side on the fuse socket is +ve and which is -ve? Also, what would i be looking for?

2 - having done the onscreen diagnostic test for the battery, it last showed 11.8v without any other functions in use. I'll check if its tied in properly/connected to the car body, but if not, i'll replace it. I think it may have become damaged due to being left open during the months that the car was being fixed after having been written off? Anyway, I'll double check and find a replacement battery (any suggestions of the best one to go for?)

3 - how can i check that the sockets have been plugged in properly in the clock spring etc? Would you know which areas i need to check and how to undo them?

4 - also, if it's speed sensors that set off the air bags, then is this car safe? ....because i'm assuming that the collision would have damaged the sensors on the driver side half front of the car. Is there any way to fit new ones at all?

I have quite alot to test, so I'll get preparing and feedback to you shortly.

Thanks again for your help

 

Bless you friend.

Thank you for your help John - you're too kind.


Okay - a part of me is very tempted to test the fuses first (alot on Youtube about this but i'm new to it) but lets go with fitting a new battery and then take it from there. I'd be grateful if you could talk me through it. Once it's arrived, I'll give you a shout. Would you be kind enough to maybe email me your contact number? I'll still carry on updating this thread with my progress.

A side note - but the guy who sold me the prius has done a poor job on fixing the body work and so if we can have a conversation about fixing the areas of concern alittle later on, that would be much appreciated.

Okay - gonna buy a decent battery with a decent warranty.

Speak shortly

 

thanks John

I'll probably go with your recommendation, but i came across this Varta one (item number: 370570483080)

which one of these two would you go for?

i'll order once you've given me the final verdict

cheers

 

sorry, i got the wrong end of the stick - i thought i was supposed to test the actual sockets in which the fuses sit (doh!).....okay well i'll check the fuses for good measure too....but for some strange reason, all the options work well on my multi-meter but on the 200 Ohm option, it just turns off. Maybe a bad battery on it - it is pretty old i guess.

i'll buy some mini fuses from ebay aswell...